The fight against the Novel Coronavirus has created financial hardships for many. Tenants are stretched to pay their rent, and landlords are worried about how to pay their own bills. If landlords and tenants don’t talk now and work out payment plans, they may find themselves fighting in a back-logged eviction process when the moratorium is lifted. To assist in these negotiations and maintain a positive working relationships, there is a service available through community mediation centers, called Rapid Response Mediation Program.
The Rapid Response Mediation Program offers mediation through videoconference, telephone, or a secure text-based online platform. An impartial mediator helps property managers or landlords and tenants to discuss a variety of options that will enable landlords to continue receiving some amount of payment and tenants to craft a realistic future for remaining in their home. Because of the immediate community need for this service, the Rapid Response Program is being offered for no cost.
If you have tenants or are a tenant that have difficulty paying their rent due to furloughs, layoffs or other complications from the COVID-19 crisis, please call contact the mediation center on your island below and schedule a mediation through this free program.
Here is the program flyer.
Oahu:
The Mediation Center of the Pacific
1301 Young Street, 2nd Floor
Honolulu, Hawai`i 96814
Telephone: 808-521-6767
Fax: 808-538-1454
www.mediatehawaii.org
Big Island:
Ku`ikahi Mediation Center
101 Aupuni Street, Suite PH 1014 B-2
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Telephone: 808-935-7844
Fax: (808) 961-9727
www.hawaiimediation.org
West Hawai`i Mediation Center
P.O. Box 7020
Kamuela, Hawai`i 96743
Telephone: 808-885-5525
Fax: (808) 887-0525
www.whmediation.org
